Detroit basketball is finally back. Led by Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, and a solid rotation filling out the roster, the Detroit Pistons sit atop the Eastern Conference nearly three weeks into the 2025-26 NBA season with an 8-2 record with six consecutive wins.
The rise for the Pistons isn’t completely unexpected, but still a bit surprising considering they are ahead of the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers in the East, two teams with the best odds in the conference to make the Finals.
Regardless, Detroit is playing well, but just ten games in, there is still a lot of room for improvement, and perhaps adding a top-tier player that could turn the team into a true contender.
Writing for Bleacher Report, Grant Hughes proposed a trade that would see the Pistons bring in one of the best big men in the league, while keeping their core frontcourt players together. Though it wouldn’t be an easy task, he urged Detroit to bring in Lauri Markkanen, who is currently putting up All-Star-level numbers and derailing the Utah Jazz’s plans of making a top-three pick in next year’s draft.
Pistons Mock Trade For Lauri Markkanen
With his play through the opening span of the season, it is hard to find a Pistons fan who would want the team to trade Duren, and luckily for them, Hughes’ proposal doesn’t include the 21-year-old averaging nearly 20 points and 12 rebounds a game on 65% shooting.
So, with that in mind, here is what a mock trade would look like to add pair Markkanen with Cunningham, and what has been the best frontcourts in the league so far this season.
Detroit Pistons Acquire: Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Acquire: Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland II, a 2028 first-round pick (top-3 protected) and a 2030 first-round pick (top-3 protected)
The reasons for Utah making the move are pretty clear. Markkanen’s play is forcing them to make a decision, and with Walker Kessler out for the year, all signs point to the rebuild continuing, meaning trading the star is likely their best option.
The Jazz already have have some young talent and would add more in the deal. Markkanen doesn’t fit that timeline, and while he is playing the best basketball of his career, it might be worth it to move him while he is putting up these numbers and is healthy.
“Ultimately, Utah is selling high on Markkanen while he’s hot and healthy, securing future-focused assets that make far more sense for the organization’s timeline,” Hughes wrote.
The haul back brings in the other young players that fit their timeline, along with a few picks for good measure.
For Detroit, they are focusing on maximizing their time with the quick-rising Cunningham. The trade fleshes out some fat from the Pistons roster and salary cap, and though on a huge contract himself, adds a potential All-Star right now for a contending team.
Bringing In A Top Big While Keeping Duren Would Be Perfect
Recently published on NBA.com on the best things about this Pistons team, John McKechnie wrote that Duren’s rebounding prowess has only shot up this season.
“Jalen Duren is a double-double machine who is picking up from where he left off last season,” McKechnie wrote. “Overall, Duren is putting up 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1 block per game during the win streak. He’s shooting 68% overall and 86% on free throws.”
The Pistons won’t want to lose Duren, even if it means bringing in Markkanen, which is why Hughes’ mock trade is perfect for Detroit. While it has mostly been Duren, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has gotten strong some performances out of Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed, but they lack another seven-footer who could comfortably play alongside Cunningham and Duren in a floor-spreading role.
Markkanen brings that to the table, and while the asking price could be high for his 28.3 points a night and his $238 million contract, he would likely fill in all the gaps of this current Pistons team. However, even without an outside threat from the center position, Detroit is doing fine.
“The Pistons rank fourth in Net Rating during the win streak (12.0)… Their offensive rating (120.4) ranks fifth and their defensive rating (108.3) ranks fourth,” McKechnie added. “They’re not turning the ball over (13%), they’re getting to the line (33.7%; 4th) and not letting the opposition get easy buckets (50.3 opponent eFG%).”
Players like Thompson, Duncan Robinson, and Caris LeVert have been decent, but adding a player like Markkanen could turn what has been a ‘good run‘ into season-long success, something the Pistons haven’t seen since 2004.
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